One piece locking belt

ABSTRACT

A locking belt is used with a container having an annular end portion defining a top opening and a removable cover overlying the opening. The locking belt comprises a split circular ring, generally U-shaped in cross section, having first and second ends and including an outer circumferential wall. An arm extends outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the second end to define a notch opening away from the second end. A lever arm has a near end and a distal end. The lever arm comprises an arcuate handle having sides to be received on the split circular ring and includes a member extending between the sides. A connecting strap is provided for integrally connecting the split circular ring first end and the lever arm. The ring, the connecting strap and the lever arm are of one piece plastic construction. In use, the member is received in the notch with the lever arm overlying the split circular ring at the second end to retain the cover on the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to a one piece plastic locking belt for securing a cover to a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In one form of conventional shipping and storage container, in the form of a drum, a tubular side wall is formed of fibrous material or other material. It is conventional to provide connecting rings at opposite ends of the sidewall for securing closures thereacross. The connecting rings may be of metal or plastic. Alternatively, the drum may be of one piece plastic construction, such as made by blow molding.

In one form of a container closure, a removable cover is configured to rest on the annular connecting ring at the top of the container. A locking belt secures the cover to the retaining ring. The locking belt most commonly has been formed of metal and includes metal locking structure riveted thereto. Such a metal locking band can be expensive and might also rust, which could contaminate the product stored in the container. Locking belts have also been formed of plastic. The plastic locking belts are formed of multiple plastic pieces. This requires that the multiple pieces be molded or otherwise formed separately.

The present invention is directed to solving one or more of the problems discussed above in a novel and simple manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is disclosed a locking belt of one piece plastic construction.

Broadly, there is disclosed a locking belt for use with a container having an annular end portion defining a top opening and a removable cover overlying the opening. The locking belt comprises a split circular ring, generally U-shaped in cross section, having first and second ends and including an outer circumferential wall. An arm extends outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the second end and includes a notch opening away from the second end. A lever arm has a near end and a distal end. The lever arm comprises an arcuate handle having sides to be received on the split circular ring and includes a member extending between the sides. Connecting means are provided for integrally connecting the split circular ring first end and the lever arm comprising the ring, the connecting means and the lever arm being of one piece plastic construction. In use, the member is received in the notch with the lever arm overlying the split circular ring at the second end to retain the cover on the container.

It is a feature of the invention to provide a centering projection extending outwardly of the outer circumferential wall proximate the arm and received in a cavity in the lever arm.

It is another feature of the invention that the member comprises a shaft connected between the sides.

It is another feature of the invention that the connecting means comprises a strap connected tangentially to the outer circumferential wall and to the handle. The strap may connect to the handle inwardly from the near end.

It is a further feature of the invention that the spilt circular ring second end comprises a double wall structure defining a female member receiving the split circular ring first end.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention locking structure is operatively associated with the split circular ring and the lever arm for retaining the lever arm overlying the split circular ring.

It is a feature of the invention that the locking structure comprises a hook extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall spaced from the arm and received in an opening in the handle. The hook may include a through bore and the handle may include a projection having a hole aligned with the through bore.

It is another feature of the invention that the lever arm includes ribs extending inwardly from the handle.

There is disclosed in accordance with another aspect of the invention a one piece plastic locking belt for use with a containing having an annular end portion defining a top opening and a removable cover overlying the opening. The locking belt comprises a split circular ring defining a channel, including an outer circumferential wall, for retaining the cover on the container. The ring has first and second ends and an arm extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the second end to define a notch opening away from the second end. A lever arm has a near end and a distal end. The lever arm comprises an arcuate handle having sides to be received on the split circular ring and a member extending between the sides. An elongate strap is between the split circular ring first end and the lever arm. In use, the member is received in the notch with the lever arm overlying the split circular ring at the second end to retain the cover on the container.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the specification and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container including a drum, a cover and a locking belt in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the locking structure of the locking belt of FIG. 1 in a disengaged state;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the locking structure of the locking belt of FIG. 1 in a partially engaged state;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an outer side of a handle of the locking structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an inner side of the handle of the locking structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the locking belt of FIG. 1 in a locked state;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating a locking element for retaining the locking belt of FIG. 1 in the locked state; and

FIG. 8 is cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 illustrating the locking belt locking the cover on the drum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a container 10 includes a drum 12 having a tubular side wall 14 closed at a bottom by a bottom wall (not shown) and having an annular end portion 16 defining a top opening 18. The annular end portion 16 comprises a connecting ring in the form of a chime 20. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the drum 12 is of one piece molded plastic construction such as may be formed by blow molding. Referring also to FIG. 8, the chime 20 defines an annular shoulder 22.

As an alternative to a one piece plastic drum, the drum 12 may be formed of other materials such as a conventional fibrous tube side wall having a metal or plastic connecting ring defining a radially outwardly opening annular recess to define a shoulder similar to the shoulder 22.

The top opening 18 is selectively closed by a cover or closure 24 secured to the chime 20 using a locking belt 26 according to the invention. The closure 24 is of unitary construction and in the illustrated embodiment is injection molded of suitable synthetic resin. The closure 24 includes a generally circular top wall 28 surrounded by a downwardly opening U-shaped flange 30. When the closure 24 is seated on the chime 20, the chime 20 is received in the flange 30, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The locking belt 26 includes a split circular ring 32. The split circular ring 32 is generally U-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIG. 8, including an outer circumferential wall 34 separating an upper wall portion 36 and a lower wall portion 38. The U-shaped split circular ring 32 defines a channel 40. In use, the outer circumferential wall 34 extends around the closure 24 with the lower wall portion 38 engaging the drum shoulder 22 and the upper wall portion 36 projecting radially inwardly above the closure flange 30 to retain the closure 24 on the drum 12. Particularly, the upper wall portion 36 and the chime 20 sandwich the flange 30.

The locking belt 26 also includes a lever arm 42 and a connecting strap 43. In accordance with the invention, the split circular ring 32, the lever arm 42 and connecting strap 43 are of one piece plastic construction. More particularly, the locking belt 26 is injection molded of synthetic resin such as high load melt index (HLMI) resin. The resin may be polyethylene or an engineering resin depending on the required strength for its application. The locking belt 26 is molded in a generally circular configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the split circular ring 32 has a first end 44 and a second end 46. Circumference of the ring 32 between the first end 44 and the second end 46 is slightly greater than the circumference of the closure flange 30. An arm 50 extends outwardly from the outer circumferential wall 34 proximate the second end 46. The arm 50 defines a shaft receiving notch 52 opening away from the second end 46.

A hook 54 extends outwardly from the outer circumferential wall 34 and is spaced from the arm 50 opposite the second end 46. A through bore 56 extends transversely through the hook 56. The hook 54 faces in a direction away from the arm 50, as is particularly illustrated in FIG. 2. A centering projection 58 extends outwardly from the outer circumferential wall 34 between the arm 50 and the hook 54.

Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lever arm 42 has a near end 60 and a distal end 62. The lever arm 42 includes an arcuate handle 64 having sides 66 and 68. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the sides 66 and 68 extend from the near end 60 to the distal end 62 and are wider at the near end 60 and taper at the distal end 62. The sides 66 and 68 need not extend all the way from the near end 60 to the distal end 62. An engaging member in the form of a shaft 70 is connected between the sides 66 and 68 at the near end 60.

An opening 74 is provided in the handle 64 proximate the distal end 62. The opening 74 is generally rectangular in shape and is of a size to receive the hook 56. A pair of projections 76 extend outwardly from the handle 64 on opposite sides of the opening 74. The projections 76 include holes 78. With the hook 56 received in the opening 74, the holes 78 are aligned with the hook through bore 56. A network of ribs 80 extend inwardly from the handle 64, see FIG. 5. The network of ribs adds strength to the lever arm 42 and define a cavity 82 for receiving the centering projection 58.

The connecting strap 43 connects the circular ring 32, proximate the first end 44, and the handle 64 of the lever arm 42, proximate the near end 60. Particularly, the connecting strap 43 integrally connects the split circular ring first end 64 and the lever arm 42, the three elements being of one piece plastic construction.

The connecting strap 43 is connected to the split circular ring 32 about 1″ to 1½″ from the first end 44. The split circular ring 32 includes an enlarged end portion 80 between the strap 43 and the first end 44. The split circular ring 32 includes a double wall structure 82 between the second end 46 and the arm 50. An inner part of the double wall structure 82 comprises the split circular ring 32 at the second end 46. The inner part is surrounded by a general U-shaped outer wall 84 of larger size. The double wall structure 82 defines a female member 86 and is sized to receive the first end enlarged portion 80, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 to provide an end to end lock

A sequence used for installing the locking belt 26 onto the drum 12 and closure 24 is now described. Initially, the closure 24 is placed on top of the drum 12 with the U-shaped flange 30 resting on the chime 20, as shown in FIG. 8. The split circular ring 32 is placed around the closure 24 and chime 20, as generally illustrated in FIG. 8, with the first end 44 and the second end 46 spaced apart as shown in FIG. 2 with the lever arm 42 away from the split circular ring second end 46. The ends 44 and 46 telescope, as described above, by inserting the first end enlarged portion 80 into the female member 86, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 6, into an engaged state shown in FIG. 3. In the engaged state, the lever arm 42 is still spaced from the split circular ring 32. Next, the lever arm 42 is turned and moved radially inwardly, as necessary, until the shaft 70 is received in the arm notch 52 and the lever arm 42 is then toggled down toward the circular ring 32 to the locked state shown in FIG. 6. In the locked state, the hook 54 is received in the through opening 74 and engages the handle 64 to latch the lever arm 42 in the locked state. The spacing between the lever arm side 66 and 68 is greater than spacing between the circular upper portion 36 and lower portion 38 to be received thereon. The hook 56 maintains the lever arm 42 in the locked state. Thereafter, a locking element 88, see FIG. 7, can be threaded through the hook bore 56 and the projection openings 78 to secure the locking belt 26.

As described, the first end enlarged portion 80 and second end double wall portion 82 provide end to end positive interaction. This end to end positive interaction adds additional strength when in the locked state. With some drums, the additional strength may not be required. As such, the enlarged end portion 80 and second end double wall portion 82 may be eliminated. The ends 44 and 46 may butt together, may overlap, or may be spaced apart in the locked state, as necessary or desired. The centering projection 58 and cavity 82 provide center of handle interaction to help retain the lever arm 42 in the locked state in conjunction with the locking structure provided by the hook 54.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is described a one piece plastic locking belt used for securing a closure to a drum to form a shipping and storage container. The use of a one piece locking belt minimizes the number of parts required to be molded and simplifies reusability and storage. 

1. A locking belt for use with a container having an annular end portion defining a top opening and a removable cover overlying said opening, comprising: a split circular ring, generally U-shaped in cross section, having first and second ends and including an outer circumferential wall and an arm extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the second end and including a notch opening away from the second end; a lever arm having a near end and a distal end, the lever arm comprising an arcuate handle having sides to be received on the split circular ring, and including a member extending between the sides; and connecting means for integrally connecting the split circular ring first end and the lever arm comprising the ring, the connecting means and the lever arm being of one piece plastic construction, wherein, in use, the member is received in the notch with the lever arm overlying the split circular ring at the second end to retain the cover on the container.
 2. The locking belt of claim 1 further comprising a centering projection extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the arm and received in a cavity in the lever arm.
 3. The locking belt of claim 1 wherein the member comprises a shaft connected between the sides.
 4. The locking belt of claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises a strap connected tangentially to the outer circumferential wall and to the handle.
 5. The locking belt of claim 4 wherein the strap connects to the handle inwardly from the near end.
 6. The locking belt of claim 1 wherein the split circular ring second end comprises a double wall structure defining a female member receiving the split circular ring first end.
 7. The locking belt of claim 1 further comprising locking structure operatively associated with the split circular ring and the lever arm for retaining the lever arm overlying the split circular ring.
 8. The locking belt of claim 7 wherein the locking structure comprises a hook extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall spaced from the arm and received in an opening in the handle.
 9. The locking belt of claim 8 wherein the hook includes a through bore and the handle includes a projection having a hole aligned with the through bore.
 10. The locking belt of claim 8 wherein the lever arm comprises ribs extending inwardly from the handle.
 11. A one piece plastic locking belt for use with a container having an annular end portion defining a top opening and a removable cover overlying said opening, comprising: a split circular ring defining a channel, including an outer circumferential wall, for retaining the cover on the container and having first and second ends and an arm extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the second end and including a notch opening away from the second end; a lever arm having a near end and a distal end, the lever arm comprising an arcuate handle having sides to be received on the split circular ring, and including a member extending between the sides; and an elongate strap between the split circular ring first end and the lever arm, wherein, in use, the member is received in the notch with the lever arm overlying the split circular ring at the second end to retain the cover on the container.
 12. The locking belt of claim 11 further comprising a centering projection extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall proximate the arm and received in a cavity in the lever arm.
 13. The locking belt of claim 11 wherein the member comprises a shaft connected between the sides.
 14. The locking belt of claim 11 wherein the strap is connected tangentially to the outer circumferential wall and to the handle.
 15. The locking belt of claim 14 wherein the strap connects to the handle inwardly from the near end.
 16. The locking belt of claim 11 wherein the split circular ring second end comprises a double wall structure defining a female member receiving the split circular ring first end.
 17. The locking belt of claim 11 further comprising locking structure operatively associated with the split circular ring and the lever arm for retaining the lever arm overlying the split circular ring.
 18. The locking belt of claim 17 wherein the locking structure comprises a hook extending outwardly from the outer circumferential wall spaced from the arm and received in an opening in the handle.
 19. The locking belt of claim 18 wherein the hook includes a through bore and the handle includes a projection having a hole aligned with the through bore.
 20. The locking belt of claim 18 wherein the lever arm comprises ribs extending inwardly from the handle. 